Weave control mechanism



Aug. 13; 1940.

H. M. HILL; y 2,210,925

WEAVE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 17, 1938 INVENTOR ATTORNE so Referring-to the'drawing: I l is a perspective view of a web feed- 4 Patented Aug. 13,1940

PATENT ol-'FICE 2,210,925 WEAVE CONTROL MECHANISM Howard M. Hill,

American Can Company,

corporation of New Jersey Bayside, N. Y., assignor to New York, N. Y., a

Application May 17, 1938, Serial No. 208,458

2 Claims.

The present invention trol mechanism for a strip or web feeding or other 'machine and has particular reference t0` controlling the path of travel of a web of mate'rial in its passage through such machine so that weaving of the web is prevented. y

An object of the invention is the provision o1' a control mechanism for a web feeding machine which functions to maintain the web in a straight more easily performed on the web. l

Numerous other. objects and advantages of 16 the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure ing machine including a control mechanism embodying the instant invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along a horizontal plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. l, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the electric apparatusused in connection `with the control mechanism.

As a preferred embodiment of the .present invention the drawing illustrates sufllcient of a web feeding machine A to clearly show the operation of a web control mechanism indicated by the letter B. The web to be operated on may be of any desired material and is indicated by the letterC. It may ous and may be unrolled from asupply roll D and may be fed forward for desired operations.

The roll D. of supply material is preferably supported on a b ar II which' is carried in U- shaped bearings I2 formed in suitable side frames I3 which may constitute the main frame of the web feeding machine A. The web C is 5 preferably pulled from off the roll D by a'paIr of` coacting feed rollers I5, I6 between whlchtlie web is threaded. These ed on cross-shafts II', 50 suitable bearings formed The rollers are rotated in unison in in the side frames I3.

the machine.

The web C advanced by the feed rollers I5, 55 I6 is also preferably relates toA a weave con line path of travel and to prevent it from weaving or running oi to one side or the y other to the end that desired operations may be be substantially continul feed rollers aremountf- Il' which are carried in V any suitablej manner in -time with the other moving parts of threaded over a tension roller 2I, thence under an idler roller 22, and is further fed forward by a-pair o f coacting auxiliary feed rollers 23, 2l. It is this train of rollers which direct and feed the web along a predetermined path of travel through the feeding ma chine and toward its destination where subsequent operations may be performed `upon it. The particular form of operation is immaterial for the present invention.

The auxiliary feed rollers 23, 24 are mounted on cross shafts 26, 21 which are carried in suitable bearings formed in the side frames I3. These rollers are preferably rotated in unison in any suitable manner in time with the feed rollers I5,I6 and with the other moving parts of the machine. Idler roller 22 is rotated by frictional engagement with the web C and is therefore loosely mounted on a cross-shaft 28 which is carried in suitable bearings formed in the side frames I3.

Maintenance of the web C in a straight line path of vtravel to prevent weaving as it passes over the various rollers in the machinel is effected by the tension roller 2 I. This roller is rotated by frictional engagement with the web C passing over it and is therefore loosely mounted on a non-rotatable cross shaft 3l.

One end of the shaft 3l is formed with a squared shank-32 which is pivotally disposed between a pair of horizontal lugs 33 formed on the inside face of oneof the side frames I3. This end of the shaft is anchored on a pivot pin 35 which extends through the shank 32 and is secured in the lugs 33. The opposite or free end of the shaft is also provided with a squared shank 36 which lrests in a horizontal slot 31 formed in the adjacent side frame I3. I

This constitutes a floatable mounting for the tension roller and permits shifting of the roller by movement of one end either backward or forward in relation to the direction of travelof the web over the roller. At the same time theroller is maintained in a horizontal plane. Thus by shifting the free end of the roller forward (toward the right as in Fig. 1) the adjacent edge of the web remains taut while the other edge of theg'vweb is loosened. This lcauses awtransverse shifting of the web on the roller the web riding over toward the loose edge. -In a similary manner by backward `as its shaft is rocked on the pivot pin 35, the edge of the web adjacent the free end of the roller is loosened and the opposite edge remains taut. I

shifting the rbuer' vposite side of the web will still surfacetravel at the web as the rollers 2l, 24 and this tends at all times to keep the web moving evenly as long as it is feeding correctly inthe center of the rollers. There is some distance be- 4tween the ilrst feed rollers I5, l5 and-the second set of rollers and as is always done when handling long sections of a web, the web itself must needs be under some stretch. In any change of movement of the roller 2|, therefore, which results in loosening one side of the web, the opbe held taut even though the over-all lineal distance along that edge of the web and between the sets of feed rollers is lessened a small amount.

This reverse action will transversely shift the web toward the free end of the roller. In this manner the tension roller may be shifted as de.- sired to maintain the web in a straight line path of travel by quickly realigning the web if `it weaves out of such a path of travel.

Shifting of the free end of the tension roller 2| is effected by the control device B which includes an actuating rod Il connecting with the free or shifting end of the tension roller shaft 3|. 'I'he connecting end of the rod is preferably rectangular in shape and nts within a slot l2 formed in the tension roller shank 35. The ccnlnection is made by a pivot pin l2. 'I'he opposite end of the rod may be round and is slidably mounted in a pair of spaced bearings M formed on a bracket 45 which in turn is mounted on a transverse truss 45 of the side frames I3.

Actuating rod 4| carries a worm wheel l1 adjacent its outer bearing I4. The worm wheel has an internal screw thread which engages with a screw thread I8 formed on the rod. The worm wheel is held against tthe bearing by a collar 'section 49. This collar section surrounds the threaded portion of the rod and is connected with the outer bearing 44 by a bridge 5| these parts being integral with the bracket 45. 'Ihe worm wheel I1 meshes with and is rotated by a worm 55 mounted on a shaft 56 of a reversible electric motor 51 which is bolted to the frame truss l5.

Thus when the electric motor 51 is rotated its worm 55 rotates the worm wheel 41 on the rod ll and through the screw thread connection between the worm wheel and the rod, the revolving worm wheel eects a longitudinal movement of the rod. It is this movement which shifts the tension roller 2| as hereinbefore explained.

The electric motor 51 being of the reversible type, may be rotated in either direction by passing its actuating electric energy in the proper direction. This provides a simple yet etl'ective control for shifting the tension roller 2| and for keeping the web in the desired path as it passes -over the roller.

Actuation of the electric motor 51 and its direction of rotation is controlled automatically by the web itself. This is accomplished through the medium of a detector bar 5| (see also Pig. 2) which is located adjacent the idler roller 22. 'I'he detector bar 6| extends .transversely of the machine adjacent the path of travelof the web C and is carried in bearings 52 formed in the side frames I3. The bar carries al pair of detector discs 63 a disc being located adjacent each edge of the moving web. 'I'he two discs are spaced apart a distance slightly in excess of thewidth of the web.

Under normal travel of the web, as when it is4 moving in a straight line, there will be a slight clearance between each edge of the web and the face of the adjacent detector disc B3. If for any .a ball 51 reason the web begins to weave, i. e., shift to one side, the edge of the moving web will engage against the face o! its adjacent detector disc and thereby push it and the detector bar li transversely of the' machine.

Movement of the detector bar 5| actuates an electric control switch 55 which governs the action of the electric motorI 51. This is eected by an arm bar. 'Ihe outer end of the arm is provided with which operates within a groove il formed in one end of a switch lever I5. The switch lever is mounted nea' its center on a pivot pin 1| secured in a housing 12 of the switch I5. The opposite end of the switch lever is formed with a double hammer head 13 (see Fig. 3) which` is normally disposed between a pair of movable switch contacts 15, 15.

Referring now to the wiring diagram in Fig. 3 It will be observed that the control switch 55 and its movable contacts 15, 18 form part of a pair of normally open motor control circuits zr, y which are arranged to direct electric energy from a suitable source of power such as a generator 15, through the electric motor 51, one circuit being for the forward, the other for the reverse motor movement. 'This flow of electric energy turns the motor in the right direction so that the proper shifting actuation will be applied to the tension roller 2| to correct any weaving of the web as hereinbefore explained.

When the web C shifts the detector bar 5| toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the control switch lever 55 is rocked so that its hammer head 13 engages and moves the switch contact I15. This moves contact 15 into engagement with an adjacent contact 5| (Fig. 3) of the motor circuit X. This closes the circuit X, which willbe rtermed a forward circuit, and electric energy from generator 1I passes through the circuit along wires 52'; 52,' contacts Il, 15, a wire 84, a solenoid G5, and returns to the generator by way of wires It, 81.

Current passing through the forward circuit energizes the` solenoid 85. The energized solenoid acts on a movable core Il of a conventional double acting motor switch I9 and shifts the core into a position where contacts 8|, 92 carried on the core engage with other contacts 52, which are wired to the motor 51. This establishes an auxiliary circuit vwhich includes the motor ,and

vthe generator.

Electric energy from the generator 15 then also passes from wire 82 along a wire 56, contacts 52, 54/ through the motor 51 returning by way-of contacts 53, 9|, a wire 51, and wire "back to the generator. Current passed through the motor in this direction rotates it forward, i. e., in the proper direction to pull vthe tension roller 2| forward so that the web C will shift over toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1.v This brings it into its straight line position, as hereinbefore mentioned.

In this shifting of the web back into its normal or straight line position the web strikes against one of the discs 63 and also shifts the detector bar 6|. I'his in turn rocks the control switch lever 59 of switch 65 into its central position and its hammer head 'l2 is then midway 'between the switch contacts 15, 15. The motor circuit X is thus broken and the solenoid is deenergized.

Deenergizing of the solenoid 85 also opensv the motor switch 89 and separates contacts 5|, 92 from contacts 83, 54. Ifhis breaks the auxiliary circuit and the motor thus stops 56 which is carried on the detector operating. As f5 long as the web C remains in its normal straight line position, the control switch lever $9 will remain in a central position and its hammer head will be midway between but not switch contacts 15, 16, The motor will then remain at rest as long as the web is central or until the web again begins to weave.

If the web C weaves toward the right as viewed in Fig. i the detector bar-6l moving with the web will rock the control switch lever 69 in a reverse direction to that iust described. The lever hammer head 13 will thus' push the switch contact 16 into engagement with a contact lili of the circuit Y. This completes the reverse circuit Y. Current from the generator 18 then passes along wire 82, a wire i02,` contacts 10|, 16, a wire |03, a solenoid it, and returns by way of a wire and wire B1.

Current passing through this circuit energizes the solenoid 04. The energized solenoid thereupon acts on the motor switch core 88 and thus shifts the contacts 9|, S2 carried thereon which now come into engagement with contact 94 and with a contact 101 both contacts being wired to the motor 51. This re-establishes the auxiliary circuit comprising the generator, motor and connecting wires 82, s6, 81 but transmits the current through the motorin the reverse direction than that before described.

Thus the motor 51 rotates in reverse and the tension roller 2l is pushed backward (Fig. '1). This action effects a shifting of the web C toward the left and it thus returns to itsv proper straight line position. Thereturning web striking the other disc $3 shifts `the detector bar 8l and the connecting control switch lever 69 is again positioned so that the lever hammer head 13 is again brought into a midway non-contacting position between the switch contacts 15, 16.This,breaks the reverse circuit Y and the solenoid 1M is deenergized. The switch motor 89 is thereby opened and all current from generator 18 is cut oi from the motor. The motor thus stops operating until again started in either direction as herein described by a subsequent weaving of the web C.

It is thought that the inventionv and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be appar` ent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parte without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacriilcing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

touching the I claim:

l. A weave control mechanism forweb feeding machines, comprising in combination: feeding devices for advancing a web of material through the machlne,'a tension roller disposed in the path of travelof the web and over which said web passes, detector instrumentalities including an axially movable detectorbar having spaced portions thereon respectively engageable by opposite edges of the advancing .web and an electric control switch connected to and adapted to be closed by axial movement of said detector bar in one direction, a motor controlled by said switch and having an armature shaft, and an actuating bar member secured at one end to the axis of said tension roller and having a direct gear connection at its opposite end with said armature shaft, said motor being responsiveto the closing oi' said switch by the axial movement of said detector bar when the latter is engaged by said web for moving through said gear connection said actuating rod for vshifting said tension roller horizontally and at an angle to said web to return the web to a straight line position in its travel through the machine when the web runs out of line. f

2. A weave control mechanism for web feeding machines, comprising in combination: feeding devices for advancing a web of material through the machine, a tension roller disposed in the path of travel of the web and over which said web passes, detector instrumentalities` including an axially movable detector bar having spaced disk members thereon respectively engageable by opposite edges of the advancing web and a double acting electric control switch connected to and adapted to be closed by axial movement of said detector bar in opposite directions, a; reversible motor controlled by said switch'v and having an armature shaft, and a threaded actuating bar member secured at one end to the axis of said tension roller and having a direct gear connection at its opposite end with said armature shaft, said motor being responsive to the closing of said switch by the axial movement of said detector bar in either directionwhen the latter is engaged by said web for axially moving through said gear Iconnection said threaded actuating rod in either direction for shifting aontally and at an angle to said web to return the web to a straight line position in its travel through the machine when the web runs out of line.

HOWARD M. BILL said tension roller hori- 

